Song can be mimicked but not replicated like Steve did it.. And its so apparent hearing covers done of it. People can transcribe and get the notes right, but can they groove it like Gadd? The answer is no.. Some come close tho ;-)
I would say absolutely no part of this song is particularly easy to play. Too many subtle moments of genius peppered throughout the piece it’s extremely difficult to replicate. That said, this guys fucking nails it 👍
Nailed it. Every drummer, at least once, would love to play this like you just did. Kudos to you. Spot on! As a fellow long-time drummer, I applaud your performance.
Freakin top notch mate. That's one of my most liked Steely Dan drum part. if I hadn't been watching I would of assumed it was a steely dan vid. Great stuff!
Excellent playing. Aja has a complex structure with lots of arrangements, but has to be executed with a loose feel while keeping the groove. Loads of dynamics changes as well. You nailed it.
Every great drummer knows this song but few (myself included) can actually play it. This is absolutely incredible. You’re one of the first people I’ve seen play matched grip with phenomenal stick control. My hat’s off to you and yes Gadd would even be impressed.
I’d say the answer is a resounding YES! Dude, your dynamics and cymbal work are phenomenal. I think this is the best cover of this song that I’ve seen. Hats off!
NALED IT. Excellent dynamics and the perfect touch of cymbals. And kudos for the detail in 05:02 We will never know if it was a mistake or on purpose. Gadd reportedly showed up quite hungover for that sessions. Only two takes and done.
Ryan, this drummer, does a "rim-click" I know what you mean. Everyone says the same thing about the stick-click on purpose. Only Gadd knows. But if you go back to the same section of the chart repeated at 05.34 you hear this
Loved this ! I have spent time with this song but mostly with the Alive In America version comping Dennis Chambers on drums. Both he and Carlock play it differently live than the studio version but I still like the studio version best. This is likely the best performance of the studio album I have seen, great job.
Real good, man. That took some delving. I liked that spot in the first take-off where you were spishing the hat with the right hand on the in betweens. I could not get a good grip on just how Steve was doing that until i saw this. Thanks, man. Nice work.
I'm not a drummer beyond air drumming, but I am a musician. The tempo on those fills and the placement of your cymbal strikes- wow! I feel like you honored Mr Gadd well. Thanks for the awesome challenge! Do some others?
You did an amazing job covering a world class jazz drummer; Gadd is a drummer's drummer. It sounds to me the rim playing 2:05 is getting ghosted with two more strokes...4:05 is such a fun part to play too... I couldn't wait till you got to 5:20...When you nail that; Ya gotta think; "Hey, I'm pretty good"...:)...You ain't no joke! Playing this album since the 80's...I wish I did it as clean as you did...:)
Hi Ryan. Thanks very much for putting the time in to perform such a great tune and such a great representation of Steve’s drumming. I could not really work out all the bits but watching you play this and it all started making sense. Lovely groove and musicality, you make it look easy. 10/10
Ryan, excellent playing. You really nailed it. The hi hat and cymbal work was amazing! You really have a beautiful touch on the cymbals. All os the solos were executed with great feel as well as musically correct. I have never heard a better version of this on RUclips. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
To hit Steve Gaads solo so perfectly is incredible, to play a long with Wayne Shorter is perfection
I had always dreamed of seeing Steve Gadd play "Aja" live. I think this is the closest thing there is. Awesome.
Best drum cover of this song I've ever seen- you nailed the feel, which IMO is even more important than going hit for hit. Outstanding!
Your touch on the cymbals and tom tuning in this is stellar
thanks man!
100%.
Most of that song is easy, until it isn't. That's when you need someone good. Really well done!
Song can be mimicked but not replicated like Steve did it.. And its so apparent hearing covers done of it. People can transcribe and get the notes right, but can they groove it like Gadd? The answer is no.. Some come close tho ;-)
Ah yes, that's how I often felt about Bonham; easy and then suddenly it isn't. Great comment.
I would say absolutely no part of this song is particularly easy to play. Too many subtle moments of genius peppered throughout the piece it’s extremely difficult to replicate.
That said, this guys fucking nails it 👍
Very well executed Ryan, I think even Steve would be impressed.
Masterful dude! Your cymbals and high-hats sound almost spot on. Drum fills spot on!
YES YOU CAN!!! 💥
It must be so rewarding to do anything perfectly, masterfully. I hope you consider this performance to be an example
The finesse, dynamics and fluidity of your attack is phenomenal.
Bravo my friend job well done
GodDAMN That was good
Nailed it. Every drummer, at least once, would love to play this like you just did. Kudos to you. Spot on! As a fellow long-time drummer, I applaud your performance.
Magnificent. You did it justice and then some!! Thanks for sharing the video!
This truly deserves way more views and likes! What an unbelievable cover
Well done !
Freakin top notch mate. That's one of my most liked Steely Dan drum part. if I hadn't been watching I would of assumed it was a steely dan vid. Great stuff!
This was enjoyable to watch! Well done man!!
If you could create something as iconic as this, from scratch, then I'd say yes...... Steve Gadd is a creative genius.
I really can not recall the drums taking the lead on any other rock/pop song. Brilliant. Great playing too.
One of the best drum covers I have seen. Most impressive
Excellent playing. Aja has a complex structure with lots of arrangements, but has to be executed with a loose feel while keeping the groove. Loads of dynamics changes as well. You nailed it.
Nice job! This is a brave undertaking and you nailed it.
I absolutely love this song , seeing each drum stick strike just enhances the enjoyment. Great video. Thank you.
Every great drummer knows this song but few (myself included) can actually play it. This is absolutely incredible. You’re one of the first people I’ve seen play matched grip with phenomenal stick control. My hat’s off to you and yes Gadd would even be impressed.
Matched grip actually uses many more muscles than traditional which was created to accommodate drums that hung at an angle over a soldiers shoulder.
Well done man - I reckon I even heard the famous stick-click in there! Great job.
This video has 19K views and I alone account for probably 2K of those, love this video
I’d say the answer is a resounding YES! Dude, your dynamics and cymbal work are phenomenal. I think this is the best cover of this song that I’ve seen. Hats off!
Great playing, great sounding kit!
That was fun to watch! Amazing! Thank you for posting!
Steve Gadd. One of my favorite drummers.
Very smooth. You have feel when you play the drums instead of just hitting a skin
You nailed it bro! Excellent!
Superb, very well played!!! Thanks for sharing!
A huge feat!! Great job and your cymbals sound as well as your drum tuning is Gadd perfect!!!
This was incredible, thanks for sharing.
this is definitely a hidden youtube gem
Awesome stick work!!! Drums are tuned perfectly!
I could listen to this over and over again!
Congrats!
Because video is recorded from over head,I can learn how to play so easily .Thank you so much!
Sick cover, brother. You keeping that beat after the song proper faded out was smooth... nice.
Niceeeeeee..mr GADD..would have been pleased...great track...BLESSINGS
Excellent work! Bravo! Very nice. Kudos. Well done. Atta-boy. You tell'em skippy. Don't hurt'em Hammer! ;)
Well-done mate. Absolutely brilliant!
this is pure art, bautiful
Yes. So good.
Great feel to your cover. Just the right amount of swing, and excellent volume control.
This is a perfect cover. Perfect.
Fantastically done.
Just fabulous
I believe you did this song justice. Masterfully played!
My God, it's truly a perfect cover. Those toms sound heavenly, and your attention to all the small details is on point.
Well done, man!
oh god that was incredible, and those drums are just perfection, the sound is glorious so yeah, you indeed did steve justice
Ridiculously good!!
over 8 minutes of solid drumming!
The end of this song is perfection - you nailed it
Great job. Man!!!! Steve would be proud!!!!!!!
You got the stick click and all 🤣
NALED IT. Excellent dynamics and the perfect touch of cymbals.
And kudos for the detail in 05:02 We will never know if it was a mistake or on purpose. Gadd reportedly showed up quite hungover for that sessions. Only two takes and done.
I think it was a stick click, just hitting the two sticks against each other
Ryan, this drummer, does a "rim-click" I know what you mean. Everyone says the same thing about the stick-click on purpose. Only Gadd knows. But if you go back to the same section of the chart repeated at 05.34 you hear this
Fantastic Gadd would be proud for sure
Incredible job- well done!
Outstanding Rendition!
Nice work! So intricate.
beautiful cymbals
This was spot on. You even managed to be musical vs. robotic in the imitation.
wow that was absolutely amazing ,on the money , so spot on
Exceptional performance! The entire kit sounded absolutely amazing, beautiful sticking. Well done!
Wow! Close you eyes and hear the original track - a fantastic cover. Congratulations and thanks😎.
NICE....great piece to cover and difficult. You did a fantastic job, the triplet flams were spot on.
Just to think that Gadd did this Steely Dan session when he was slightly hungover and still slightly blitz. GREAT JOB!
Outstanding.
Absolutly amazing, the bist cover I could find
the timing and control of your drumming is really cool to watch. great job. I love those big cymbals-really easy on the ears
Simply beautiful. Loved your ending run just before the finish at 8 minutes. Well done!
Loved this ! I have spent time with this song but mostly with the Alive In America version comping Dennis Chambers on drums. Both he and Carlock play it differently live than the studio version but I still like the studio version best. This is likely the best performance of the studio album I have seen, great job.
Excellent. Trying to learn this now . Tough nut to crack . This is a big help .daaaaam Steve Gadd
Gadd would be proud of you. Great job.
Real good, man. That took some delving. I liked that spot in the first take-off where you were spishing the hat with the right hand on the in betweens. I could not get a good grip on just how Steve was doing that until i saw this. Thanks, man. Nice work.
Excellent cover, very musical and excellent touch on the cymbals. Well done, well done. 👏👏👏
insanely good playing wish I could do this
Simply incredible. 🙌
thank you Alex!
I'm not a drummer beyond air drumming, but I am a musician. The tempo on those fills and the placement of your cymbal strikes- wow! I feel like you honored Mr Gadd well. Thanks for the awesome challenge! Do some others?
That was awesome
Holy $hit!!!! I gotta watch that again!!! Freakin EPIC!!
brillilant outro on fire !
why do I get such pleasure watching anyone do this song. Wonderful job.... musical drumming, flowing time. Thanks for posting!!
Brilliant!!!!!
You did an amazing job covering a world class jazz drummer; Gadd is a drummer's drummer. It sounds to me the rim playing 2:05 is getting ghosted with two more strokes...4:05 is such a fun part to play too... I couldn't wait till you got to 5:20...When you nail that; Ya gotta think; "Hey, I'm pretty good"...:)...You ain't no joke! Playing this album since the 80's...I wish I did it as clean as you did...:)
Excellent job.
Great job, my dude!
Bravo my man!! Excellent work....
Hi Ryan. Thanks very much for putting the time in to perform such a great tune and such a great representation of Steve’s drumming. I could not really work out all the bits but watching you play this and it all started making sense. Lovely groove and musicality, you make it look easy. 10/10
Ryan, excellent playing. You really nailed it. The hi hat and cymbal work was amazing! You really have a beautiful touch on the cymbals. All os the solos were executed with great feel as well as musically correct. I have never heard a better version of this on RUclips. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Loved it! Thanks!
Yeah you did him justice. Well done.
thank you!
Excellent cover.
Sounds great. Fantastic playing!
Man, this was pretty phenomenal.. awesome cover. Liked and subbed. Looking forward to seeing more great content. Hope you have a nice week
Thank you Steve!
Well done..well done indeed Ryan
Flawless. Just beautiful playing. Absolutely loved it! ❤️
thumb's up brother!.
killer effort.
I feel like I just played that! Fa-a-antastic!